exploration

noun

ex·​plo·​ra·​tion ˌek-splə-ˈrā-shən 

-ˌsplȯ-

: the act or an instance of exploring

explorational

ˌek-splə-ˈrā-sh(ə-)nəl 

-ˌsplȯ-

adjective

Synonyms of exploration

• investigation
• inquiry
• examination
• study
• probing
• research
• probe

Examples of exploration in a Sentence

a topic for scholarly exploration

the early exploration of the West

early explorations of the West

Recent Examples on the Web

Tony Romeo, the CEO of the undersea exploration firm Deep Sea Vision, had been speaking to Matthews for some time about the possibility of helping to find the aircraft if one of his ships was ever in the area. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026

What develops is a discomfiting, emotionally intense exploration of intimacy between the two men, rooted in the traumatic, troubled origins of their student-teacher bond. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2026

Where The Opportunities Lie The most attractive opportunities are not in launch services or deep-space exploration. — Andreas Bubenzer-Paim, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Among some older Republican subgroups, support for oil exploration and nuclear power was much stronger. — Mayank Kejriwal, The Conversation, 21 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing exploration

• re-exploration
• self-exploration

Rhymes for exploration

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

exploration

noun

ex·​plo·​ra·​tion ˌek-splə-ˈrā-shən 

: the act or an instance of exploring